Installing and Removing Power Supplies within Luggage Systems

Abstract

Luggage handle assemblies for installing, removing, and retaining removable power supplies from articles of luggage. The luggage handle assembly includes a luggage handle housing and a power supply housing connected to the luggage handle housing, the power supply housing capable of receiving a removable power supply. The luggage handle assembly includes an access door pivotably attached to the luggage handle housing, and a latch slideably attached to the luggage handle housing, wherein, in an engaged position, at least a portion of the latch engages with the access door to prevent the access door from opening, and wherein, in a disengaged position, the at least a portion of the latch is disengaged from the access door to permit the access door to open and the removable power supply to be inserted or removed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A luggage handle assembly comprising:
 a luggage handle housing;   a power supply housing connected to the luggage handle housing, the power supply housing capable of receiving a removable power supply;   an access door pivotably attached to the luggage handle housing; and   a latch slideably attached to the luggage handle housing, wherein, in an engaged position, at least a portion of the latch engages with the access door to prevent the access door from opening, and wherein, in a disengaged position, the at least a portion of the latch is disengaged from the access door to permit the access door to open and the removable power supply to be inserted or removed.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the luggage handle housing comprises a first chamber corresponding to the engaged position and a second chamber corresponding to the disengaged position, wherein the first and second chambers are configured to require a force to toggle the latch between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the latch comprises a thumb grip. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 3  wherein the thumb grip is substantially flush with a surface of the luggage handle housing. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 1  wherein a lateral side of the access door comprises a pocket configured to receive at least a portion of the latch when in the engaged position. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the luggage handle housing comprises a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the latch when in the disengaged position. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the latch comprises a chamfered upper surface. 
     
     
         8 . A luggage handle assembly comprising:
 a luggage handle housing;   a power supply housing connected to the luggage handle housing, the power supply housing capable of receiving a removable power supply;   an access door pivotably attached to the luggage handle housing;   a lip integrally formed on the access door; and   a depression formed in the luggage handle housing, wherein, in a closed state, the lip is configured to engage with the depression to prevent the access door from opening.   
     
     
         9 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 8  wherein the lip is formed on a bottom surface of the access door and the depression is formed on an interior surface of the luggage handle housing. 
     
     
         10 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 8  wherein the depression is formed on an exterior surface of the luggage handle housing. 
     
     
         11 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of the access door is configured to flex in response to an applied force. 
     
     
         12 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 8  wherein the access door comprises a top surface and a front surface, and extends over a corner of the luggage handle housing. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 12  wherein the top surface of the access door and the front surface of the access door are configured to be substantially flush with an outer surface of the luggage handle housing when the access door is in the closed state. 
     
     
         14 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 8  wherein a top surface of the access door is configured to be substantially flush with an outer surface of the luggage handle housing when the access door is in the closed state. 
     
     
         15 . A luggage handle assembly comprising:
 a luggage handle housing;   a power supply housing connected to the luggage handle housing, the power supply housing capable of receiving a removable power supply;   an access door pivotably attached to the luggage handle housing; and   a push-button disposed proximate an outer surface of the luggage handle housing, the push-button connected to a latch that, in an engaged position, extends over an upper surface of the removable power supply to retain the removable power supply within the power supply housing;   wherein the push-button is configured to toggle the latch to a disengaged position, such that the removable power supply can be removed from the power supply housing, in response to a depressive force.   
     
     
         16 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the push-button and the latch are integrally formed. 
     
     
         17 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the latch comprises a chamfered upper surface. 
     
     
         18 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the access door further comprises a lip configured to engage with the luggage handle housing to retain the access door in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the power supply housing includes a push-push spring mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The luggage handle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the push-button is configured to remain in the engaged position in the absence of a depressive force, by a spring assembly.